I have a snowboard in my closet that I haven’t used in years. The last time I went skiing was sometime around 1994. I love the snow and I love being outdoors, but I’ve never been very good at any of the traditional winter sports.

Recently, I found a solution to my problem: the ancient art of snowshoeing. For anywhere from about $18 (for a rental) to $100 (for a purchased pair) you can romp and hike your way through a winter wonderland without breaking the bank and without breaking your knees.First, you need some equipment. The Bellevue, Issaquah, Seattle, and Alderwood locations of REI all rent snowshoes. Depending on whether or not you have a membership, they cost between $18 and $34. If you plan to use your snowshoes near a ski area, there might also be a rental shop on site.

It’s winter in Washington, which means rain, cold, and more rain. It also means it’s time for the Woodinville High School Theatre Department to produce its annual drama, and this year’s absurdist tragi-comedy “The Visit” by Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s might be its most captivating yet.

“You’ll laugh a little bit, and then not,” said Ethan Yee, a Woodinville High School senior.

Chef Breanna Beike wants to invite you to dinner. She’ll cook for you and serve you a perfectly paired glass of wine, and she won’t charge you too much either. All this, at her soon-to-open restaurant in Woodinville called Heritage Restaurant |Bar.

“Come as you are. Welcome to my home,” she said. “I’m the budget-friendly neighbor.”

Heritage Restaurant | Bar will open in mid- to late March in a collaborative 6,000 square-foot space (where Mazatlan used to be) that will also include two wine tasting rooms.